6.77% increase in cash liquidity in the Saudi economy

Cash liquidity in the Saudi economy rose by 6.77% during the first half of 2026, recording an increase of $57.23 billion (SAR 214.6 billion) in the first six months of the year compared to its value at the end of last year. The volume of liquidity in the economy, also known as M3 (broad money supply), reached approximately $901.97 billion (SAR 3.382 trillion) by the end of the first half of this year, compared to $844.74 billion (SAR 3.168 trillion) at the end of 2025, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

It is worth noting that cash liquidity refers to M3, which consists of total deposits in the Kingdom (demand deposits, time and savings deposits, and other quasi-money deposits) alongside currency in circulation outside banks. M3 comprises M1, which includes currency in circulation outside banks and demand deposits. M2 consists of M1 plus time and savings deposits, while M3 includes both M2 and other quasi-money deposits.

The value of M1 (currency in circulation outside banks plus demand deposits) increased by 1.4% during the first six months of 2026, reaching $452.75 billion (SAR 1.698 trillion) by the end of the period, compared to $446.48 billion (SAR 1.674 trillion) at the end of 2025. This increase in M1 resulted from a 3.55% rise in the value of currency in circulation outside banks during the first six months of the year, reaching $66.81 billion (SAR 250.55 billion), compared to $64.53 billion (SAR 241.97 billion) at the end of 2025.

Similarly, demand deposits rose by 1.04% to $385.94 billion (SAR 1.447 trillion), compared to $381.95 billion (SAR 1.432 trillion) at the end of December 2025.

Likewise, M2 (M1 plus the value of time and savings deposits) increased by 7.9% in the first six months of 2026, reaching $819.52 billion (SAR 3.073 trillion), compared to $759.5 billion (SAR 2.848 trillion) at the end of last year.